Track and control assembly for folding doors



Nov. 19, 1963 P. H. NELSON TRACK AND CONTROL ASSEMBLY FOR FOLDING DOORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26, 1960 F I G. I

FIG. 2

INVENTOR. PAUL H. NELSON AT OPNEYS Nov. 19, 1963 P. H. NELSON TRACK AND CONTROL ASSEMBLY FOR FOLDING DOORS Filed April 26, 1960 I5 She'ets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

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FIG. 5

mmrroa F'A (/L H. NELSON ATTORNEY-S Nov. 19, 1963 P. H. NELSON TRACK AND CONTROL ASSEMBLY FOR FOLDING DOORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 26, 1960 FIG. 7

INVENTOR. PAUL H. NELSON BY WM ATTORNEYS United States 3,111,165 TRACK AND CONTROL ASSEMBLY FOR FOLDHQG Dflillitl Paul H. Nelson, Plairlviile, Conn, assignor to The taniey Works, New Britain, Conn, a corporation of 6onnecticut Filed Apr. 26, 19:59, Ser. No. 24,859 8 Claims. ({Il. loll-2%) The present invention relates to folding doors and is concerned more particularly with a track and control assembly for use with such doors and having particular advantage mthough not limited for use with folding doors which are mounted on the exterior of a wall surface rather than within a door opening.

Folding doors may be hingedly mounted on the jamb of a door opening in the same manner as ordinary doors but since the door is not a rigid unit but consists to two or more panels hinged together in side-by-side relationship, it is desirable to provide supporting and guiding means for the outer corner of the door to hold the door panels in controlled compact relationship during opening and closing movement and to make it simple and easy to open the door and return it to closed position with a minimum of manual effort or direction.

it is an aim of the present invention to provide a track and control assembly for folding doors which will provide an improved smooth controlled action of the door, particularly from the standpoint of avoiding binding of the moving parts during opening or closing action of the door. Included in this aim is the provision of such an assembly which is of compact design and attractive appearance for use with doors of the type which are surface mounted.

A further aim of the invention is to provide such a track and control assembly which will permit the door to be folded back beyond the 90 position when open, so that the door will entirely clear the door opening. it is intended that this aim shall be accomplished without th necessity of using door panels of different width or of supporting the door panels with unequal spacing between the pivots.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a track and control assembly of the type referred to which is economical to fabricate and assemble, which is easily and quickly installed, and which is durable in structure and will operate effectively during long periods of use under normal conditions.

Other objects will be in part obvious, and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination or elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a track and control assembly of the present invention installed with a two panel folding door which is surface mounted on a wall for extension across the door opening, the wall and door being shown fragmentarily;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top view of the parts shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the upper portion of the door and wall shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the track in vertical cross section;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the parts shown in FIG. 3 with the track in horizontal cross section;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary end view showing the end of the track attached to the wall and with the guide for the second panel of the door engaged in the track;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of the opposite end of the 3,3 l Llh Patented Nov. 19, i363 ice track and showing the track controller engaged therein and mounted on the first panel of the door; and

PEG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary top view of the assembly with the door in fully opened position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the invention is shown in connection with a two panel folding door consisting of the first, pivotally mounted side panel it) hingedly connected at one side of the doorway 3 and the second or leading panel 12 hingedly connected to the first panel. Although the invention is described in connection with a two panel door, it will be apparent from the following description that the invention is equally applicable to the mounting of doors having a multiple of two door panels. The door panels 1d and 12 are hingedly connected together in side-by-side relationship by means of the hinges 14 which are secured to the rear surfaces of the panels, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The pivotally mounted panel 10, in turn, as connected by the hinges 16 to the wall 18. The hinges 16 which comprise a pair of pivotally connected L-shaped hinge plates especially designed for use for the surface mounting of doors of thin cross section are of the type described and claimed in copending application Serial No. 837,476 filed September l, 1959. When mounted as shown in the drawings, the folding door consisting of the panels 10 and 12 is hintgedly or pivotally connected to the exterior surface of the wall and in closed position is intended to extend across the front of the door opening 8.

The door may be held conveniently in closed position by the use of resilient bumpers 21 attached to the inner surface of the second panel 12 so as to abut the door jamb as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Inasmuch as a center line drawn between the bumpers and the pivot axis of the hinges 16 will fall outwardly of the hinges 14, it will be apparent that pressure applied by the bumpers 21 will act to bias the door into fully closed position.

In accordance with the invention, the outer corner of the second or leading panel 12 is guided by a track and control assembly which includes an elongated track 22 which extends across a top of the door parallel thereto and parallel to the wall 18 when the door is in closed position. The track 22 may be formed in any convenient mannesuch as a metal extrusion. A preferred configuration of the track is shown in detail in the dnawings, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular shape of the track shown, since other configurations may be selected if desired. The track shown in the drawings has plain and flat outer walls or faces 23 and internally has the opposed guide slots 24 and a center channel 25 formed in its top wall.

The lefthand end of the track 22, as viewed in FIG. 1 of the drawings, is pivotally connected to the wall 18 while the opposite end is pivotally connected to the top of the door panel it The pivotal connection for the lefthand end of the track is accomplished very simply by means of the bracket 3% which is secured to the wall 18 by the screws 31, the track being pivotally connected to the bracket 34} by means of the pivot stud 32 which is threaded into the bracket 39 and which has its head received in the center groove 25 of the track 22.

The righthand end of the track, as viewed in the drawings, is pivotally mounted on the top of the first pivotally mounted panel It} adjacent to but spaced from the hinged edge thereof by a track controller consisting of a bracket 35 secured at the corner of the panel 10 and having a pivot 34- supported thereon on which is pivotally mounted an arm 36 which has fixed to its outer end a slide 37 preferably of low-friction material such as nylon and configured to fit within and slide along the guide slots 24 of the track 22. As a result of the mounting structure as described, the traok will assume a position parallel to the upper edge of the door and the wall when the door is in closed position as best shown in FIGS. 1 of the drawings; but when the door is moved to open position, the righthand end of the track is moved outwardly away from the wall 18 so that the track extends at a small angle to the wall as best shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. The slide 37 is sutficiently elongated so that it will not swivel appreciably and thus will maintain the track in alignment with the pivot 34 at all times. A stud or bumper 33 which is secured to the upper wall of the track 22, as best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, extends downwardly into the path of the slide 37 thus limiting outward movement of the slide 37 and limiting movement of the door to the open position shown in FIG. 7 which, it will be noted, is a position Where the door is folded beyond the 90 position so that it completely clears the door opening.

Returning now to the guide for the outer corner of the second or leading panel 12, it will be noted that there is applied to the door an L-shaped bracket 4% which is secured to the inner surface of the door panel by the screws 41. An arm 42 is secured to the upper fiange of the bracket by means of a rivet 43. The flange of the bracket is provided with openings 44 on opposite sides of the rivet 43 and the arm 42 is provided with a tapped opening 45 which can be brought into registry with either of the openings 44 by swinging the arm 42 about the pivot provided by the rivet 43. The arm 42 is held in selected position by the screw 46. The adjustment feature, just described, is to permit the same assembly to be used with either lefthand or righthand doors since in either installation it is desired to have the arm 22 extend toward the edge of the door from the center rivet 43. Carried on the outer end of the arm 42 is a buttonshaped guide 48 preferably formed of low-friction material, such as nylon. The head of the guide 48 is intended to slide freely within the guide slots 24 of the track 22.

The operation of the improved track and control assembly of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description taken in connection with the following explanation. With the door in fully closed position, as shown in FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, the track 22 extends parallel to both the top of the door and the wall 18. As the door is moved to open position, however, the guide 423 on the outer corner of the second or leading panel 12 will be drawn progressively along the track 22 and at the same time, the righthand end of the track will be moved outwardly away from the wall 18 inasmuch as the pivot point 34 which is spaced from the pivot of the hinges 16 moves outwardly from the wall. The lengthening distance between the pivot 32 and pivot 34 is accommodated by movement of the slide 37 along the track 22. As a result of the increasing angularity of the track 22 relative to the wall 18, it is exceedingly easy to move the guide 48 along the track 22. This is particularly advantageous during reverse movement of the door when the door is being closed and effectively avoids binding of the parts. Continued opening movement of the door eventually brings the door to the fully opened position shown in FIG. 7 wherein further movement is prevented by engagement of the guide 4% with the slide 37, which in turn engages the stop 38. It will be noted that in this position the door completely clears the door opening 20. To close the door, it is only necessary to urge the door panels toward the closed position with a light pressure with the result that the outer corner of the door will be guided smoothly and easily to the closed position and the track will be returned to its original position parallel to the door.

While the track and control assembly has been shown in connection with a surface-mounted folding door, it wiil be apparent that the invention may be used, if desired, with doors which are mounted within a door opening. Also, the assembly is easily and quickly installed with a minimum of instruction and skill, has a pleasing and compact appearance and will provide efficient and desirable operation over long periods of usage.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it will be apparent that variations and modifications may be made by one skilled in the art and all such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In the combination comprising a wall having a doorway therein and a folding door having a plurality of panels hinged together in side-by-side relationship with one of the panels hingedly mounted at one side of the doorway, an assembly comprising an elongated track, first means pivotally mounting one end of the track over the doorway and spaced from said one side of the doorway, second means pivotally mounting the other end of the track on said one of the panels and spaced from said one side of the doorway, means allowing relative movement of said first and second means longitudinally of the track, and a guide adjacent the outer corner of a second panel hinged to said one panel and engaged in the track.

2. In the combination comprising a wall having a doorway therein and a folding door having a first and second panel hingedly connected together in side-by-side relationship with the first panel hingedly mounted along one edge at one side of the doorway, a track assembly comprising an elongated track adapted to extend along the top of the door when the door is in fully closed position, spaced pivot means for the track movable relatively to each other longitudinally of the track, one of said pivot means being fixed to the top of the doorway and the other being fixed to the top of the first panel adjacent but spaced from the said one edge thereof for movement with the door panel as the door is opened and closed, and a guide adjacent the outer corner of the second panel engaged in the track.

3. In the combination comprising a wall having a doorway therein and a folding door having a first and second panel hingedly connected together in side-by-side relationship with the first panel hingedly mounted along one edge at one side of the doorway, an assembly comprising an elongated track, mounting means forming a pivot for one end of the track above the doorway and spaced from said one side thereof, second mounting means forming a second pivot for the other end of the track at the top of the first panel adjacent but spaced from said one edge thereof, means forming a slidable connection between the track and one of the pivots to permit variations in the spacing of the pivots as the door is opened and closed, and a guide adjacent the outer corner of the second panel engaged in the track.

4. In the combination comprising a wall having a doorway therein and a folding door comprising a pair of panels hinged together in side-by-side relationship with one of said panels hingedly mounted on the wall at one side of the doorway, an assembly comprising an elongated track, first means pivotally supporting one end of the track and secured to the wall above the doorway, second means pivotally supporting the other end of the track on the top of said one panel and spaced from the edge thereof, said second means having a sliding connection with the track, and a guide adjacent the outer corner of the other of said panels engaged in the track.

5. In the combination comprising a wall having a doorway therein and a folding door comprising a pair of panels hinged together in side-by-side relationship with one of said panels hingedly mounted on the wall at one side of the doorway, an assembly comprising an elongated track, means pivotally supporting one end of the track and secured to the wall above the doorway and spaced from said one side of the doorway, a slide in the opposite end of the track, means pivotally connecting the slide to the top of said one panel spaced from the side edge of the panel, and a guide adjacent the outer corner of the other of said panels engaged in the track.

6. In the combination comprising a Wall having a doorway therein and a folding door comprising a pair of panels hinged together in side-by-side relationship with one of said panels hingedly mounted along one edge at the side of the doorway, an assembly comprising an elongated track, means pivotally supporting one end of the track above the doorway, a slide in the opposite end of the track, means pivotally connecting the slide to the top of the said one of the panels adjacent but spaced from the said one edge thereof, a guide adjacent the outer corner of the other of said panels engaged in the track, and a stop on the track limiting movement of the slide relative to the track during opening movement of the door.

7. A track and control assembly for use with folding doors comprising an elongated track, a first means pivotally mounting one end of the track secured to the top of a doorway, a second means pivotally mounting the other end of the track secured to the top of a first panel hingedly connected at one side of a doorway, means allowing relative movement of said first and second means longitudinally of the track, and a guide slidable in the track having means for attachment to the top of a second panel hingedly connected to the first panel to positively control the position of the two panels at all times during the opening and closing movement thereof.

8. In the combination comprising a wall having a doorway therein and a folding door having a first panel and a second panel hinged together in side-by-side relationship With the first panel having its opposite edge hinged at one side of the doorway, a guide assembly comprising an elongated track, first pivot means on a wall above the doorway for mounting one end of the track, second pivot means on the first panel positioned at the top thereof and at a point adjacent the axis of the hinge mounting the first panel on the wall at the side of the doorway, the second pivot means mounting the other end of the elongated track on the first panel to provide a positive driving means to control the angular position of the track relative to the doorway during the opening and closing movement of the door, and a guide adjacent the outer corner of the second panel engaged in the elongated track.

References tCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,349,398 Weis Aug. 10, 1920 2,571,664 Blum Oct. 16, 1951 2,360,701 Wood et a1 Nov. 18, 1958 2,882,962 Hollansworth Apr. 21, 1959 3,029,868 Ogburn et a1 Apr. 17, 1962 

1. IN THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A WALL HAVING A DOORWAY THEREIN AND A FOLDING DOOR HAVING A PLURALITY OF PANELS HINGED TOGETHER IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE OF THE PANELS HINGEDLY MOUNTED AT ONE SIDE OF THE DOORWAY, AN ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TRACK, FIRST MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING ONE END OF THE TRACK OVER THE DOORWAY AND SPACED FROM SAID ONE SIDE OF THE DOORWAY, SECOND MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE OTHER END OF THE TRACK ON SAID ONE OF THE PANELS AND SPACED FROM SAID ONE SIDE OF THE DOORWAY, MEANS ALLOWING RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEANS LONGITUDINALLY OF THE TRACK, AND A GUIDE ADJACENT THE OUTER CORNER OF A SECOND PANEL HINGED TO SAID ONE PANEL AND ENGAGED IN THE TRACK. 